The flag was emitting a surging Demon Qi, swelling in the wind as if it were about to cover the fist.
But when the flag touched the fist, it tore instantly, like a piece of rag, its patterns warping and collapsing, offering almost no resistance.
However, in the moment the flag attempted to block, the silver-robed youth activated a streak of flowing light that caught them up, shooting towards the sky like an aurora.
“Don’t you dare escape!”
Li Muxiu roared furiously, his body’s strength surging like angry waves. He abruptly raised his hand and, in the distant void where the silver light had fled, he conjured a massive palm that smashed down fiercely.
The three Demon Kings inside the aurora were horrified. Could this even be possible?
The Dragon Lord spoke again, spitting out a breath of True Dragon Sword Qi that collided with the giant palm, slowing its momentum slightly.
Using this brief window, the silver light sped away, but its edges were still grazed by the palm.
Simultaneously, the three of them spat out mouthfuls of blood, their eyes showing a glint of terror. Was this the power of the Ultimate Study Realm?
Without pausing, the silver light continued, fading somewhat before flying beyond the sky and disappearing from view.
“Tan Palace!!”
Seeing the silver light vanish into the horizon, Li Muxiu’s eyes nearly breathed fire, recognizing the identity of the silver-robed youth and the escape talisman employed.
Li Tian Gang had been stationed in Northern Yan for over a decade, largely because of Tan Palace.
And now he had seen an elder from Tan Palace again.
If it weren’t for the fact that Li Tian Gang’s generation had suffered too many casualties and the third generation’s youngsters hadn’t yet risen, leaving no one to spare to preside over the Divine General Mansion, he would wish nothing more than to visit Tan Palace and turn it upside down right now!
Hearing the demonic tide still roaring in the distance, Li Muxiu’s residual anger was hard to quell. He raised his fist and struck out.
The fist was radiant as the blazing sun, suppressing from above the tide of Demons and carrying the force of thousands of mountains falling.
In an instant, a huge expanse was crushed within the demonic tide, the ground littered with fresh blood, and the torn bodies of slaughtered Demons, some of which were annihilated completely, leaving only scattered remnants.
It was as if he had punched to death a swarm of mosquitoes!
Such terrifying momentum caused the remaining Demons to be utterly petrified and trembling in fear.
Everyone present was shocked, having witnessed the terrible power of the older generation of the Li Family.
Was this the strongest combat force currently in the Divine General Mansion?!
Li Muxiu’s face was twisted with rage. He did not pursue the three Demon Kings any further. Scanning the surroundings, he spotted a huge Demon King corpse in the camp and his pupils slightly constricted—the small Heavenly Gate Pass had actually faced the incursion of four Demon Kings at the same time!
No wonder Feng Boping had been so gravely injured. No wonder Li Hao’s situation had been so dire!
Li Muxiu turned and headed back, appearing instantaneously before Li Hao. Observing Li Hao’s mutilated body, tears welled up in the eyes of a man who hadn’t cried even on the battlefield for years.
The last time he was this angry was when his elder brother died.
“Quick, take the medicine.”
Li Muxiu quickly pulled out numerous medicines from his sleeve, many spilling to the ground, all precious treasures that would make anyone envious.
Li Hao’s heart had settled down a bit. From the moment that the master of the Heavenly Secrets Tower appeared, he knew he would survive this battle. Seeing that his second uncle had also come, he revealed a smile and said:
“Sorry for the worry.”
“What silly things are you saying?”
Li Muxiu nearly choked up, “It is I who arrived too late.”
“You are indeed quite late; how come you only arrived now?”
Feng Boping did not indulge Li Muxiu, the feeling of being snatched from the jaws of death brought a smile to his face as he spoke somewhat irritably.
Li Muxiu glanced at the hole in Feng’s abdomen and shared some medicine with him, “Say fewer words, don’t run out of breath.”
“Don’t curse me. We agreed to die together in the future. If you don’t die, how can I possibly die?”
Feng laughed as he spoke, yet he did not refuse the precious medicine handed to him and swallowed it down immediately.
Li Muxiu paid him no mind and turned to look at Song Qiumo, offering her a share as well and whispered, “This favor, the Li Family will remember!”
Song Qiumo smiled enchantingly, her cheeks still pale and weak, but now that the situation was stabilizing, she did not need to maintain tight control over her body. Her inner Qi began to circulate quietly, turning to heal her own injuries.
“This favor isn’t intended for the Li Family; it’s for him,” she said with a light laugh.
Li Muxiu was taken aback, his expression changing slightly. The favor of the Li Family was exceedingly precious, but the Demon King of Tan Palace chose to ask for a favor from Li Hao instead.
However, Li Muxiu knew that there was some teasing in her words; she hadn’t seriously considered it as a favor.
Otherwise, would she have persevered here to such an extent?
What favor could be more important than one’s life?
Li Muxiu turned his head to look deeply at Li Hao. That this Demon King from Tan Palace was willing to sacrifice so much for Li Hao showed the depths of their friendship.
Considering these things, he felt reassured yet also somewhat bitter.
“Eat it, why aren’t you eating?”
Li Muxiu saw that Li Hao was only holding the medicine without ingesting it and urged him immediately.
Li Hao shook his head gently, handing the treasures to Feng. It would be a waste for him to ingest them, as it wasn’t necessary.
Now that the Demon Kings were driven away, and their lives were no longer in immediate danger, he could heal himself by leveraging the nature of his recuperative abilities, although it would take some time, especially since he had been so severely injured this time.
Seeing Li Hao’s actions, Li Muxiu’s expression changed slightly. Remembering the words Li Hao had said when he left the mansion, he said bitterly:
“Won’t you even accept what your second uncle offers you?”
Li Hao quickly responded, “Second Uncle, you misunderstand; these treasures would be somewhat wasted on me, as I can heal myself.”
“What nonsense about waste, no amount of treasures would be too much for you!” Li Muxiu said angrily.
Li Hao felt the old man’s sentiment and revealed a smile. “Second Uncle, you needn’t worry. I have my own ways to recover.”
Li Muxiu wanted to say more, but Feng Boping’s eyes flickered, diverting the topic. “Why did you come so late? Did that kid not let you come?”
Li Muxiu’s face slightly changed, he glanced at him, then at Li Hao, and said:
“Hong Zhuang returned home to ask for help and gather troops. I had just been to the Xia Family and had just returned to the clan not long ago. After hearing the news, Tiangang asked me to come as reinforcements, insisting that we must protect Hao Er.”
Feng Boping slightly raised his eyebrows, glanced at him, and after a brief silence, he said, “What did you go to the Xia Family for?”
“It’s the Divine General Mansion’s business; why are you asking so many questions?” Li Muxiu glared at him.
Feng Boping chuckled lightly, which also sounded somewhat scornful. He didn’t continue with the pleasantries but looked up at the white-clothed Tower Master and said,
“May I leave now?”
Lu Chunsheng looked at him coldly and said, “Considering your actions this time in warding off demons and defending the border, I will let you off for now. But next time I see you, I will show no mercy!”
“Heh, then I should thank you,” Feng Boping said mockingly with a chuckle.
He laughed in a strange tone, then cupped his hands together, turned around, and drifted away, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Lu Chunsheng glanced at Li Muxiu. He had clearly heard the conversation between the two earlier and was surprised to learn such astonishing news today.
Could it be that the old boxing saint of the Li Family was actually friends with this saint of thieves?
If the news got out that the Divine General Mansion was colluding with a great thief, the Li Family could end up bearing countless curses.
However, he naturally had no interest in revealing this. But such information could serve as a secret dossier, adding another bargaining chip to Tianji Tower.
“Don’t listen to the Old Madman’s nonsense. Tiangang may be hot-tempered and stubborn, but he wouldn’t be careless about such matters…” Li Muxiu turned his head and said to Li Hao.
“Second Uncle!”
Li Hao called out softly, interrupting him. With Li Muxiu’s eyes slightly stunned, Li Hao smiled at him and said, “I’m very happy that you could come. I will repay this favor.”
Li Muxiu’s face slightly changed, and he was taken aback.
He naturally detected the implication in Li Hao’s words, treating the act of assistance he received as a “favor.”
Rather than the aid of Li Muxiu being close friends with Li Hao.
Because he had mentioned that person, it led the kid to set boundaries for his visit.
Li Muxiu felt a bitter taste in his heart and sighed, “Hao Er, do you really plan to stand guard here for three years?”
“Yes.”
Li Hao nodded. “Today, I almost died. I was almost forced to flee, breaking the agreement.”
Li Muxiu’s face subtly changed once more, catching the underlying meaning: unless at the brink of death, he would be unwilling to break the agreement.
At that moment, Li Hao looked at the Tower Master, bowed slightly, and said:
“Thank you for your help, Tower Master.”
Lu Chunsheng replied with a smile, “Heavenly Gate Pass is a pass in my Liangzhou, and it is the territory of the Dayu Divine Dynasty. My coming here is not entirely to assist you. As Martial Artists, we should also take part in defending the border!”
Li Hao said with a smile, “That said, you are also helping His Majesty to solve problems and relieve his concerns.”
Lu Chunsheng was momentarily taken aback, his eyes suddenly sharp as he stared at the fourteen-year-old boy.
The casualness in the other’s words made it instantly clear to him that this boy seemed to understand everything and see through all.
Indeed.
His arrival was no coincidence.
The Grandmasters who came here, the Martial Artists from various states, it was all no coincidence either—they were all led by information spread by Tianji Tower, through subtle guidance!
Guiding these Martial Artists of Jianghu was not difficult.
And Tianji Tower, under the control of His Majesty, was the power of the royal family.
This, only a few people knew. And the older generation of the Divine General Mansion happened to be among those few.
The youth in front felt as though he had learned of this matter from the elders of Li Family.
With this in mind, the gathering of these Grandmasters and Martial Artists from various states, along with his appearance, made it not difficult to guess that this was all prearranged.
It was the arrangement of His Majesty.
In Dayue City, the youth had slain a minor Demon King and become famous throughout the world. How could Emperor Yu not take notice?
However, Liangzhou was a place guarded by the Li Family, and the royal family couldn’t rashly intervene, especially not overstepping the Li Family.
And in that battle at Qingzhou City, Li Hao had a special relationship with the Li Family. At first, everyone thought it was a farce, but as the youth killed the Demon King and suppressed Grandmasters with a single finger, nobody any longer regarded his leaving home as mere childishness!
This youth had the ability to stand alone against an entire region!
Given this, who would dare say that the youth would hit a wall, would bow his head, or need to turn back and rely on the glory of Divine General Mansion?
At fourteen, suppressing Grandmasters and slaying demons of the Three Immortal Realms! This alone was enough to fill one with pride.
Given time, this youth was bound to be a significant figure in the world’s future. By then, it would be uncertain whether the Divine General Mansion would be borrowing glory from the youth or vice versa!
And His Majesty did not send the Divine General Mansion to reinforce but instead utilized Tianji Tower to gather the strength of Jianghu’s Martial Artists to support the youth. There were several possible intentions behind this arrangement.
As for which one it was, that depended on how one interpreted the situation.
“Regardless, I will remember this favor,” said Li Hao to Lu Chunsheng with a salute, speaking earnestly.
Lu Chunsheng looked deeply at him. The gratitude and acknowledgment in the youth’s words were not attributed to Tianji Tower.
They had to be directed elsewhere.
He finally understood why His Majesty valued this young man so much that even during the struggle for the True Dragon of the Li Family, he intervened to award a decree, and when the young man was guarding the Frontier Pass, His Majesty bestowed upon him a named sword.
The youth’s talents were unmistakable, but even more so, his wisdom was far beyond what one would expect of a fourteen-year-old boy.
Indulged but not arrogant, sharp-minded and cautious, as well as humble and polite.
He suddenly found himself unable to comprehend what the Duke who now controlled the Divine General Mansion was thinking.
To abandon such a treasure in the wilderness, allowing him to almost lose his life.
Could it be that the glory of the Li Family over the past millennium was too overwhelming, and there was a desire to diminish it somewhat?
Lu Chunsheng shook his head, feeling a headache brewing at the thought of the deep grudges within the Divine General Mansion. He cast aside these thoughts and said calmly to the youth:
“I heard that you were unrivaled as the foremost among Grandmasters in the debate of martial paths, and Tianji Tower still owes you a reward. When will you have time to visit Tianji Tower for fun?”
“As soon as my injuries are healed, I’ll go,” Li Hao said with a smile.
“Good, I’ll prepare the tea and wait for you,” Lu Chunsheng replied with a smile.
He did not adopt the posture of an elder towards such an extraordinary individual.
In time, it was very likely that this young man would enter the Four Stands Realm. If he could maintain this momentum and break through without being hindered by bottlenecks, perhaps in a future generation, he could suppress the whole world and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Buddha himself.
Li Hao smiled and once again thanked the head of Tianji Tower.
Li Muxiu listened to the conversation, feeling an indescribable discomfort in his heart.
He too quickly understood that His Majesty had also secretly meddled in these affairs.
Yet, it seemed that His Majesty had no intention of reconciling Li Hao with the Li Family, which was quite thought-provoking.
Could it be that His Majesty was aware that Li Hao had not continued the soul of the Li Family ancestral hall?
Or was it that there were plans to support the rise of a sixth Divine General Mansion?
Or perhaps His Majesty simply liked Li Hao and didn’t want to see him wronged?
Li Muxiu felt that the last possibility was not very practical and frowned slightly, feeling somewhat worried.
While his affection for Li Hao was beyond doubt, he did not wish to see the child caught up in royal affairs and become a pawn of His Majesty.
If everything had never happened, and the boy was still at the estate every day painting, playing chess, and accompanying him while fishing by the lake… Li Muxiu sighed inwardly, feeling sentimental.
Following the retreat of the three Demon Kings, the tide of demons beyond the Frontier Pass also collapsed in a one-sided defeat, scattering in flight, but the majority were left behind and chopped to death by chaotic blades and swords.
Many Grandmasters returned to the camp and successively paid homage to Lu Chunsheng and Li Muxiu, then all gathered before Li Hao.
Most of them were covered in blood, some with grave injuries, arms severed, others with lower legs torn open, bandaged, and even some with eyeballs or half of their faces torn off by demons, their flesh a blurred mess, all had been treated with medicinal powder.
If it was not for Lu Chunsheng’s timely arrival, the majority of them would have likely perished completely.
“We won!”
Someone said, and immediately the spirits of the others were somewhat lifted.
Compared to them, there were even more demons slain here.
However, among the dead were also many passionate souls from various states who had come together and now lay eternally.
Li Hao did not speak, but bowed deeply to them.
Despite the guidance and arrangements by Tianji Tower, the sacrifices these people made were genuine and substantial.
Lu Chunsheng did not linger at the site, and said to Li Hao, “I will be waiting for you at Tianji Tower.”
Then he turned and floated away, disappearing without a trace.
In the distance, a group of war horses galloped in, led by a figure in bright red armor—it was Li Hongzhuang, who had previously returned to Qingzhou.
Seeing Li Hao’s bloodied state, she, who had seen countless soldiers fall in battle, also felt her eyes moisten and stepped forward, saying, “I arrived too late!”
Li Hao shook his head slightly, saying, “Thank you for the reinforcements.”
“What thanks?” Li Hongzhuang said with reddened eyes.
Li Hao did not continue the conversation, but turned to the Great Grandmaster Lin Qingfeng beside him and said:
“Please trouble you, senior, to count our fallen heroes. It would be even better if their identities could be determined.”
Lin Qingfeng nodded slightly, beckoned a few people, and left.
Li Hongzhuang said, “Leave this task to me.”
She turned and instructed, “Brothers, go count the battlefield, bring back all the fallen brothers, and try to reassemble the limbs and fragments as completely as possible!”
“Yes!”
The Bloodsha Army behind her responded in unison, and immediately set off on their horses.
Li Hao sat down on the ground, the Holy Heart Talisman in his hand already burned to ashes.
Thinking back to when Chu Jiuyue had given him the talisman, he guessed she had probably anticipated today’s events.
And that Supreme Tower Master Lu Chunsheng, who “just happened” to appear when he activated the Holy Heart Talisman, it all seemed too coincidental.
Li Hao sat carelessly on the sandy ground, legs apart, looking towards the calm evening sunlight in the distance, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
No matter what, the support of the other party had indeed been delivered effectively. If not for that, he might not have died today, but he would have been gravely injured, and that agreement would definitely have been broken.
If Emperor Yu was indeed the old man he had played chess with by the willow river, Li Hao could only say that he had won the chess games at the time, but the move the opponent made today was pressing on his lifeline, utterly ruthless!
…
…
Yuzhou, the imperial capital.
In the towering palace’s back garden, a secluded royal garden with thinly-accumulated snow.
Within it was a flowerbed that was already showing new branches, indicating that the severe winter was soon coming to an end.
“Your Majesty, the plum blossoms stand tall, and the spring blossoms are about to open too,” said Chu Jiuyue, her voice soft and submissive, observing the emerging faint yellow in the flowerbed.
The snow in the garden had been cleared, and the flowerbed was meticulously cared for; the seeds were carefully selected from countless varieties, thus all were of excellent types.
“Yes, the harsh winter is nearing its end, and the spring rain will soon come…”
Emperor Yu walked leisurely in the garden, pausing in front of this flowerbed following Chu Jiuyue’s voice, and after taking a glance, he looked up toward the distant horizon.
A flicker crossed his eyes and he spoke in a soft voice:
“The situation at Heavenly Gate Pass should be coming to a close.”
Chu Jiuyue calculated the time and nodded, saying, “In two days, the news from Chunsheng should arrive.”
“This time the intent was too obvious, that child will likely have noticed.”
Emperor Yu’s lips curled up slightly, thinking of the youth by the river who had spoken the words “All glory and wealth are as dust, all honor and riches are as clouds.”
The fact that the young man dared to shed the surname of the Li Family seemed to indeed reflect his words—a youth has his youthful recklessness.
While he appeared indifferent to glory and fame, his heart harbored a spirited pride, which Emperor Yu found very endearing.
“Wasn’t Your Majesty intending for him to realize this?”
Chu Jiuyue playfully pretended confusion, knowing that flattery such as saying “Your Majesty’s schemes are unfathomable” was too cliché and inferior. Besides, Emperor Yu held that young man in high regard, and such words might be demeaning to him, which was not clever at all.
“If he sees through it, will he develop different thoughts and blame Your Majesty?” Chu Jiuyue asked.
She knew that Emperor Yu wanted to hear more than just her flattery.
“Heh…”
Upon hearing Chu Jiuyue’s words, Emperor Yu chuckled: “Any plan has its path, and thus can be easy for someone to see through.”
“All schemes in the world are inferior to sincerity.”
“Only a genuine heart is impenetrable.”
Chu Jiuyue blinked, then looked at His Majesty. “Does this mean, Your Majesty truly cares for that young man?”
His gaze flickered, uncertain whether to believe those words.
But since His Majesty had spoken so, he could only choose to believe.
…
…
In Liangzhou, at Heavenly Gate Pass.
Within the camp of Cangya City, a third of the martial artists and Grandmasters who had come to assist had perished, and another third had bid farewell to Li Hao and departed.
Of those remaining, a portion decided to stay behind to aid Li Hao in guarding the area for a while longer.
Everyone had seen Li Hao’s grievous injuries and were waiting for his recovery.
Within the cemetery inside the Frontier Pass, many new graves had been added.
Among those fallen Grandmasters, there were those whose wives and disciples had received the news and rushed over, wishing to take their bodies back for burial.
Li Hao naturally consented.
On a mountain outside the pass.
Two figures sat there, surrounded by tranquility without wind or snow, only two flasks of wine between them—it was Li Muxiu and Feng Boping.
“Caught any good fish lately?”
Feng Boping took a sip of wine, gazing at the snow before him and asked casually.
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly, “Don’t feel like fishing.”
Feng Boping was taken aback and sized up his old friend, then suddenly asked, “Did you rush here to reinforce because the True Dragon of the Li Family arranged it?”
Li Muxiu kept his head down, fiddling with the snow on the ground, and remained silent.
Feng Boping seemed to expect the answer and sighed, “By saying this, do you intend to persuade Hao Er to return? Are you sure you want him to go back to that place? Even I, as an outsider, can’t stand to watch it. I don’t believe you truly bear to do so.”
Li Muxiu stopped tracing circles in the snow with his finger, lifted his head, and turned to look at Feng Boping:
“If I don’t put it this way, would Hao Er return? You saw how perilous it was for Hao this time; both of you nearly died!”
“Even if he has to hold his nose and go back, at least it’s safe there. Once Hao inherits the True Dragon’s mantle and surpasses his father in strength, why would he need to care about other’s attitudes anymore?”
Feng Boping fell into silence for a moment before responding, “What does the True Dragon truly intend, then? Since you weren’t sent by him, what has he done? He surely must know what Heavenly Gate Pass faced, right?”
Li Muxiu sighed and said, “He went to the eastern frontier of Liangzhou. The military camps there suffered attacks, and Xuan Li, who was stationed in the west, couldn’t provide reinforcements in time. Moreover, the attacks there were likely a feint by the demons to create a diversion, so he personally led the troops out to battle.”
“When Hong Zhuang returned, he had just set out. These are turbulent times, and who knows what the next few years will bring.”
Feng Boping expressed his surprise, “Has it really become so chaotic? If we’ve detected the demons outside the Liangzhou Territory, they should no longer resort to sneak attacks, or move their base, right? There’s no need to keep a watch over this place.”
“And didn’t His Majesty send reinforcements? This is a rare opportunity for a strategic ambush.”
Li Muxiu shook his head, “His Majesty can’t spare any forces. It’s not just Liangzhou that was attacked; several other major states are in a precarious state as well. You wouldn’t know, but three months ago in Qi State, the frontier was close to being overrun. Three cities were destroyed overnight with not a single survivor. That’s the territory of the Xia Family; now they too are on high alert.”
“Was your visit to the Xia Family because of this?”
Li Muxiu picked up a flask and took a drink, saying no more.
Talking too much about these military matters wouldn’t benefit his old friend, Feng Boping.
Feng Boping also realized he had asked too much. Although they were close friends, there were certain lines they did not cross.
“Don’t worry about Hao Er; this old life of mine can still hold on for a few more years,” Feng Boping assured him.
Li Muxiu looked at him and nodded, “You’ve been tied to this place for three years; it’s indeed an inconvenience for you.”
“Stop it. If you really feel sorry, let me take a look inside the Li Family’s ancestral treasury,” Feng Boping huffed.
Li Muxiu gave him a look, “Don’t even think about it.”
…
The people who stayed at Heavenly Gate Pass, looking at the “Cangya City” reduced to nothing more than a small mound and the cemetery sprawling endlessly like a city wall, were utterly speechless and shaken.
At that moment, they finally understood what a true frontier city was.
This was a city built of flesh and blood, a city of heroic spirits!
Many were moved and chose to stay to help rebuild Cangya City.
With the aid of those martial artists, the reconstruction project began swiftly and progressed rapidly.
Indeed, many hands make light work. Their extensive networks enabled them not only to provide the stones and wood needed for construction from beyond the pass, but other living supplies were also transported from various cities.
Thus, merchant caravans bearing flags began to appear on the once deserted Dragon Pass Road that had been quiet for decades.
Even escort agencies with their banners passed through.
This silent thoroughfare was now finally frequented by people, becoming a real road!
This road led to the end, towards Cangya City.
Outside the former mound, tall walls had already been erected. With the aid of many Fifteen Li Realm martial artists and Grandmasters, transporting large stones was effortless, making the construction of the city walls incredibly fast and efficient.
High-rise buildings sprang up from flat ground; the city rose as well.
Building after building was erected, decorated with dragons and phoenixes, exquisitely crafted.
At the top of the city walls, as ropes were pulled, a military flag unfurled in the wind.
On it were two large, dark characters:
Haotian!
When Cangya City was being rebuilt, Li Muxiu quietly bid farewell to Li Hao.
He recognized Li Hao’s nature — unwilling to return to Qingzhou and reluctant to submit. Fortunately, now that the three Demon Kings had been driven off and the danger at Heavenly Gate Pass was temporarily resolved, he could rest easy.
Moreover, upon learning that Li Hao had slain the Black Bird Demon King, he was shocked, and he realized that Li Hao no longer needed the protection of the Li Family.
Had it not been for the attack of four Demon Kings, under other circumstances, Li Hao could have protected himself through his own strength.
After all, an assault by four Demon Kings posed a risk to even those in the Four Stands Realm, let alone Li Hao, who was merely in the Heavenly Human Realm.
Regarding the rate of Li Hao’s growth, apart from feeling reassured, Li Muxiu couldn’t help but feel a hint of loss and regret.
However, seeing the many martial artists from various states that surrounded Li Hao, he understood that this might be the best outcome for him.
Not long after Li Muxiu left, people from the Monster Suppression Department arrived.
The one who came was a Commandant, as well as three Monster Suppression Generals.
This Commandant was in the Four Stands Realm, and the three Monster Suppression Generals were powerful beings from the Three Immortal Realms.
It’s worth mentioning that Li Hao had actually seen this Commandant before; he was Xiang Yuguang, who had backed Li Qianfeng, his opponent, at the True Dragon Banquet.
As one of the seven Commandants in the Monster Suppression Department, Xiang Yuguang, having backed the wrong side previously, hastened over upon hearing the news about Heavenly Gate Pass to meet the youth whom he had hastily parted ways with more than half a year ago at the True Dragon Banquet.
When Xiang Yuguang arrived, Li Hao’s body had already healed superficially under his restrained cultivation and he had changed into new garments, appearing quite neat and refined.
In the rebuilt bamboo-fenced courtyard, Li Hao sat on a bamboo mat in the gallery, lightly swinging his feet over the edge into the empty air.
On the small table beside him, a pot of tea was brewed, accompanied by a few pastries, giving off a somewhat serene vibe.
“Young Master, I heard that Demon Kings have invaded the territory, so I’ve come to register and investigate,” Xiang Yuguang stated from within the courtyard, his attitude gentle, yet feeling somewhat awkward.
Last time, he had backed the wrong side, and he wasn’t sure how deep of an impression this left on the young man.
He didn’t expect to befriend Li Hao on this visit; he only hoped to mitigate the past incident and regain some distance.
After all, there was a long road ahead. Just take it slow.
“Hmm.”
Li Hao was amiable and didn’t take the opportunity to ridicule or trouble the other, as if he had forgotten the previous events, asking:
“What do I need to do to assist?”
“I’ll show you the investigation results, and you’ll just need to confirm them,” Xiang Yuguang said with a smile.
Yet inside, he was muttering, despite being a Commandant of the Monster Suppression Department, he wasn’t even invited to sit down; this young man indeed held some grudges against him.
“Alright.”
Li Hao agreed, then picked up his teacup and gently sipped.
Picking up the teacup was a sign of seeing the guest off.
Xiang Yuguang couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless, managing only to smile and bid farewell to Li Hao.
The three Monster Suppression Generals at the entrance of the courtyard were covertly observing this young prodigy whose fame had spread far and wide, their eyes filled with curiosity and astonishment.
This young master didn’t even give face to a Commandant — truly a sign of youthful arrogance.
However, they had also heard about how Li Hao had slain the minor Demon King in the presence of a crowd. His strength was no less than any of the three of them, and given time, he would be able to stand on equal footing with those in the Four Stands Realm. Thus, there was no need to be overly humble.
“Only fourteen years old, truly preposterous.”
“Indeed, what were we doing when we were fourteen?”
“I don’t know about you two, but I was still playing a game of wits and bravery against Demons in the Divine Travel Realm…”
The three Monster Suppression Generals exchanged whispers until Xiang Yuguang approached; they ceased their covert communication and stood up straight, behaving themselves.
While Xiang Yuguang and his party went to investigate the details, Song Qiumo entered the courtyard, and Li Hao immediately invited her to sit and poured her a cup of tea.
Song Qiumo took a sip and said, “Refreshing and sweet, not bad.”
Li Hao just smiled.
“I’m preparing to return to Qingzhou,” Song Qiumo mentioned, glancing at Li Hao.
Li Hao had expected as much; with the retreat of the three Demon Kings, there was no immediate danger, and the arrival of the people from the Monster Suppression Department would somewhat deter the Demons, considering that Xiang Yuguang, after all, was in the Four Stands Realm.
These Demons dared to provoke the Divine General Mansion at the frontier, acting brazenly, but they feared the Monster Suppression Department even more.
Because the Divine General Mansion guarded the borders, facing numerous Demons, but the Monster Suppression Department was different; if you provoked them, they would focus on you intently.
After all, their duty was to capture Demons and suppress evil; they had no other business all day, just focusing on you, tracking you everywhere – the Demons despised it.
“You don’t need to worry about me here. Rather, you, having left for so long because of me, probably need to go through the registration and authorization procedure again,” Li Hao said.
Even though Tan Palace would intervene, the formalities would still require some work, especially since it was adjacent to official land, and the being admitted was a Four Stands Realm Demon King; the scrutiny was stringent.
“Minor issue,” Song Qiumo replied with a smile, then looked intently at Li Hao and said softly, “For now, it seems that there won’t be any more troubles here. Three years from now, I’ll wait for you in Qingzhou.”
“Hmm.”
Li Hao nodded slightly.
Although he was reluctant to return to Qingzhou, since his sizeable old friend was there, he didn’t mind making the trip.
Song Qiumo smiled slightly, her lips curling like a gentle spring breeze, and she offered her empty teacup, saying, “More, please.”
“Alright.”
Li Hao refilled her cup.
One cup, then another.
Song Qiumo finished his drink, stood up, glanced at Li Hao once more, and then left without looking back, his figure drifting away and vanishing into the courtyard.
Not long after Song Qiumo’s departure, the small enclosed courtyard welcomed new visitors and became quite lively.
This time the arrivals were from the Heavenly Observatory. They mastered the secret arts of arrays, and most arrays in various cities were carved and laid out by the Heavenly Observatory.
The leader this time was the Star Bureau Official of the Three Immortal Realms, holding an extremely high status.
In terms of official rank, he was even half a grade higher than Xiang Yuguang who had just left. After all, the secret arts of arrays are extremely complex, not only requiring martial arts talent but also tremendous insight. One must dedicate a lifetime to study, equivalent to reaching the apex in two different disciplines to be qualified.
A thousand years ago, demons stealthily infiltrated the Heavenly Observatory and stole several scrolls of secret array manuscripts. However, the array mastery demons controlled in recent years has been very rudimentary, because learning these things requires more brains than they have.
Arrays are involved with the heavenly stems and earthly branches, the changes of the stars, and the principles of divination. Even after studying for hundreds of years, one might not dare to claim they have comprehended them.
The Star Bureau Official, with his white and sparse hair, had an air of solemnity and dullness. Li Hao got up to welcome him, intending to offer him tea, but the elder waved his hand, saying they were here to work on orders, not to eat and drink. After meeting Li Hao and receiving the city lord’s command from his hand, he turned to get busy.
His demeanor had quite the feeling of an old scholar.
Ignoring worldly manners, he focused solely on research into arrays.
The several accompanying educators also mostly had a dull look, but occasionally their eyes would flicker with contemplative light.
Only one girl appeared more vivacious. As the others left, she lingered at the very end and said to Li Hao with a smile:
“Please don’t blame my master, young master. He is just like that by nature.”
Li Hao noticed the official embroidery on her chest, indicating the lowest rank among them, an assistant. He smiled and said:
“You should learn from your master and delve more into the study of arrays.”
The girl’s radiant smile immediately withered, and she pouted, “Why do you also talk so stiffly like my master?”
Li Hao chuckled lightly, without saying more.
The girl gave him a look, originally thinking this talented young master of similar age would be lively, but he unexpectedly carried an air of mature calmness. She secretly pursed her lips, turned, and walked away with her hands behind her back to catch up with her master outside the courtyard.
“Xiang Lan, don’t run around, it’s time to get to work,” said one of her educator senior brothers. Although from the same school, their ages seemed vastly different, with the educator senior brother appearing to be in his fifties.
“I, know, okay~”
With her head swaying like a pendulum, the girl drew out her reply in a sing-song voice, one word at a time.
After speaking, however, her gaze wandered around the new city, examining the bustling martial artists, a scene she had seen before when accompanying her master to other cities to lay out arrays; it was nothing unusual to her.
Soon, under the guidance of Li Hongzhuang, they arrived at a part of the city wall.
Just stepping onto the rampart, a chill wind hit, and Xia Xiang Lan shrank her neck. Then, her gaze naturally wandered forward, and she instantly saw an endless graveyard.
She was taken aback for a moment and subconsciously said, “These, these are…”
Li Hongzhuang, after discussing the array matters in a low voice with the elder Star Bureau Official ahead, turned to look at the young girl upon hearing her murmurs, and gently said, “These are all our sons of Dayu.”
Xia Xiang Lan felt a jolt in her heart, her pupils slightly constricted, and her breath seemed to catch.
This was her first visit to the frontier pass, the first time witnessing such a sight.
Could it be true what the books said, that beyond the Great Wall lay thousands of miles of lonely graves?
The image of that young man with a serene smile in the courtyard suddenly surfaced in her mind, and that sense of maturity and detachment now seemed to hide countless scars beneath that calm facade.
Her fingers clenched involuntarily, and her eyes took on a much more solemn look.
…
Back in the courtyard, Li Hao summoned Ren Qianqian and the little white fox to deal with the corpse of the Demon King.
Ren Qianqian had ridden back on the second day after the great battle had concluded. Although she didn’t say much, Li Hao guessed that she must not have returned to Qi State but had stayed in a nearby city; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so quick to come from Qi State to here.
About this, Li Hao didn’t say much, and everything felt very natural.
At this moment, they went to a cordoned-off area within the city, where the Black Bird Demon King’s corpse was lying, like a small hill, the area sealed off.
“The Demon King’s body is a treasure all over, how do you plan to handle it?”
Feng Boping silently appeared beside Li Hao, eyeing the Demon King in front of him, still full of sighs.
The battle that took place here was known only to him and Song Qiumo; it had not been widely publicized, and not many people knew that the Demon King was actually slain by Li Hao.
After all, a Heavenly Human Realm defeating a Demon King from the Four Stands Realm was a bit too astonishing to hear.
This kind of information was considered a secret, and it was better to keep it as contained as possible.
Feng Boping also didn’t ask much about Li Hao’s bizarre state in the martial arts, for he had watched him grow up, but many things were beyond his comprehension, like this monstrous talent.
But these things were unimportant. What was important was that Li Hao still remained the familiar little rat he knew.
“Make a nice meal for everyone.”
Li Hao replied.
Feng Boping was taken aback, looking at Li Hao in astonishment. When he saw the young man’s serious expression, he couldn’t help but laugh, and soon burst into laughter.
“You lad, you really have your ways,” he said.
Li Hao said, “The taste of the Demon King should be quite good. It serves as a decent way to thank everyone for their help.”
“That’s true,” Feng Boping agreed with a smile. That’s far from a mere compensation. If they had known there would be Demon King meat to feast on, probably even more martial artists would have wanted to come.
“Besides the flesh, the Demon King’s heart is a treasure. It can help you comprehend the essence of its way and lay the foundation for your ascension to the Four Stands Realm,” Feng Boping said. “The gilt feathers on its back are the essence of an ancient Demon King’s bloodline and excellent material for forging Divine Weapons.
You can collect them and send your Dragon Soar Sword along with them to the Ten Thousand Artifacts Tower to have them help you refine it a second time.”
Li Hao nodded, he had also thought about this.
These were indeed the most precious treasures on the body of the Demon King, coveted by countless people.
“Prepare a container, I have a use for the blood of this Demon King,” Li Hao said.
